How companies could pioneer a new era of leadership in sustainable business
Kearney has outlined four key strategies on how businesses can drive a more sustainable future.
To sustain momentum in addressing climate, biodiversity, water, and equality challenges, more organisations must need to step up amidst anticipated backlash on the ESG agenda.
Kearney outlines key strategies on how the business community can drive to a more sustainable future despite a possible resistance from policymakers.
Focus on the business and economic case for action.
Sustainability efforts must be framed in terms of risk mitigation and value creation instead of relying on morality or ideology. A strong economic rationale will keep these issues at the forefront of business agendas.
Make a strong case.
Organisations must avoid broad references to ESG and even sustainability. Instead, focus on specific issues and their underlying impact on businesses and economies.
Build coalitions.
Build coalitions of the willing to expand the ability to act on key issues. By forming coalitions with like-minded businesses, organisations can yield a lot of influence.
Use lobbying as a tool to fuel sustainable value creation.
In many cases, sustainability issues are synonymous with value creation, as long as the right policy conditions are in place. With this, organisations must use their voice to help shape these conditions.
Additionally, this is also an opportunity for business leaders to engage with policymakers, as TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné did in a recent Financial Times interview, asking the Trump administration for clear climate rules rather than the laissez-faire approach Trump prefers.
